What Is The Goal Of Your Youth Ministry This School Year? . . .
Okay. . . . this one might get me in some trouble. And it's all because I'm increasingly convinced that we're doing something wrong in youth ministry. . . and perhaps in ministry in general. We've been chugging along thinking that we've been doing it right. As a result, we continue to do it wrong because we think it's right, and in doing so, we're undermining the very work of the very God who we pride ourselves in serving.
What's prompted my thinking on this matter is a publicity piece I read regarding a self-described "youth evangelist" who touts his "success' by advertising the fact that he's led over one million kids to Christ. Sorry, I just can't take that too seriously. I wish I could, but I can't. To be fair, this isn't the first time I've heard claims like this. I consistently run into pastors, youth pastors, and even people in the pew who when asked about their church or ministry, immediately default to talking about the metrics.
My hesitancy to trust the numbers started way back in the late 1970's when, as a college student, I attended a conference where evangelist Tom Skinner was the keynote speaker. I can still visualize Skinner, a brilliant man whose passion was deep, talking about the waning influence of the church on American culture. In an effort to challenge us to take our faith seriously, Skinner asked a very thought-provoking question that has stuck with me since that day. "George Gallup's research tells us that 50 million Americans describe themselves as 'born again Christians,'" said Skinner. This was great news. . . . until Skinner lowered the boom that rocked my simple and satisfying world. He soberly asked, "If there are 50 million born again Christians in America, where are they?" Skinner's thought-provoking question and the reality it exposed has haunted me for 40 years. I thought about it again when I read the youth evangelist's claim.
I'm guessing the "successful" youth evangelist has probably (or maybe) seen over a million kids walk forward or raise their hands in response to his invitation to "make a decision" for Christ. I'm in no position to judge his motives or the accuracy of his numbers. But I think we can, and should, question his – and our – quality control. Part of the problem lies in the very fact that we spend so much time counting up the numbers so that we can judge our "success," validate the effectiveness of our ministries, and look good when we report back to our supervisors and church boards. Rarely do we go back a year later to see if the raised hand yielded a radically changed life. If we did, our math would have to include a little less addition and a lot more subtraction.
The reason? We're too focused on getting kids' hands up that we don't offer a way for the one who raised the hand to learn about the necessity and shape of the changed life that should begin the minute the hand goes down. Or, even more troubling, we focus only on getting kids' hands up because our theology of salvation has failed to include a place for what happens after.
That question should force us to ask ourselves some other questions. As parents and youth workers, we invite – and we should! – the kids we know and love to commit their lives to Christ. But are we taking the time to explain what a life of following Christ here on this earth is all about, how difficult it is, and what it requires? Do we ever talk about the fact that following the God-man who bled and suffocated on the cross requires his followers to take up a cross of their own? Do kids know that there's a life of integrating faith into every minute and every activity that's to be lived between the second their hand goes up and the second their heart stops beating? In order to come away with affirmative answers to each of these questions, we might have to rethink our understanding of conversion – that wrong thing that we've been thinking we've had right for so long. Perhaps if we understood conversion, then our ministries, our kids, our understanding of "success," our numbers, and most importantly our world, would look markedly different.
For too long youth ministry has been about getting kids "saved." I struggle with our definition of what it means to be saved and the methods we employ to get young people saved. In his thought-provoking book on conversion, Beginning Well, Gordon Smith says that the church is guilty of thinking of conversion in "minimalist terms: What is the very least that a person needs to do in order to be freed from the horrors of hell and assured of the glories of heaven?" Dallas Willard calls this the "gospel of sin management," that belief that forgiveness alone is what Christianity is all about. It's a faith that has nothing else to do with the rest of your life. You've raised your hand, you've walked forward, and now you're saved. And while it's probably not intentional, we then proceed to leave the impression that all there is to do now is to get on with life. . . . until the next time you hear the invitation and say "yes" again. . . . kind of like adding another rider onto your eternal life insurance policy.
For some, conversion is only about exchanging your one way ticket to hell for a guaranteed ticket to heaven – a ticket you cash in when life on this earth ends. Until then, you continue to live your life as you choose. Conversion has nothing to do with this life, except living with the assurance of heaven in the next. The result is there's nothing that requires your life on earth to be marked by anything that sets you apart from others whose hands have never gone up.
For others, conversion is about a change in destination when life on this earth ends – from going to hell to going to heaven – and then making every opportunity while you're still here to tell other people how to do the same. While along with your conversion comes a new responsibility to witness in a way that gets more hands up in the air, life on this earth is really about separating yourself out of this world to keep yourself from getting poisoned by this world, while focusing your hopeful gaze on heaven in anticipation of the day when your escape will be complete.
Believe it or not, Jesus didn't just come to save us from our sins. The way many of us have been raised makes this statement sound like heresy. But it's not. The real heresy is the belief that Jesus only came to save us from our sins. Think about this: when we pray the words "Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," we are asking God to unleash his Kingdom through us as we live his will and his way in every nook and cranny of our lives and His world. True conversion reorders and transforms both the now and then.
My hope and prayer is that my story will be swallowed up by God's story. My prayer for my kids is the same. If that's what happens when the hands go down, nobody will be left wondering who they're to be where they are right now. That's what it really means to say, "Yes, I want to be saved." If that's the message we communicate in our youth ministries, when the kids' hands go down those hands will be getting right to work. And for the rest of their earthly lives, it will be impossible for the world to miss seeing where they are.
What would happen if you would kick-off and continue this school year trumpeting this message?
← The Empty Promise of Stuff. . .
Thank you for a very thoughtful and reflective post about youth ministry. As I think about what you have written and my setting, how much of the "opportunity" (I was going to say problem) in youth ministry is/rests with parents? If parents are not placing a priority on a life-long process of becoming like Jesus, are we not pushing a boulder up a hill? How do we connect with parents?
Wow. I love this, Walt! Super super super stuff.
Any thoughts on HOW to challenge them to live out their salvation? What's the process? How do we make that practical in a daily way for teens (and kids, and adults!)? I think you nail the problem down with pinpoint accuracy…now lets talk solutions! Haha. I need to take another class with you as the prof.
Simply put, we/I have dubbed this year's 'theme' "Do the Word". That's the goal this year that every kid that walks in the door is a doer of the word, be it "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" or "If you love me you will obey my commands".


The collection is arranged by topic, as follows: E. A. Burke's will, correspondence, financial records, legal documents, scrapbook, and pages from the scrapbook. The collection is made up of one box.
Acquired: 02/11/1997. Additions made in 2000.
Acquisition Note: Source: Mr. and Mrs. William A. Helm..
Preferred Citation: William E. Hawkins family papers, Manuscripts Collection 937, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.
Scope and Contents: The collection is made up of legal documents and correspondence of the Hawkins family relating to the estate of E.A. (Edward Austin) Burke, the Louisiana politician and publisher who spearheaded the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans in 1884-1885. His wife and son predeceased him, resulting in his estate being inherited by numerous nephews, nieces, and other relatives. William E. Hawkins was among these heirs.


text:
Gov. Little orders flags to fly half-staff for two fallen firefighters
Chamber Staff July 22, 2022
Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little has ordered U.S. and State of Idaho flags in Idaho to be flown at half-staff in honor of two pilots killed in a helicopter crash while responding to the Moose Fire burning near Salmon in Lemhi County.
In addition, Governor Little issued the following statement:
"Our hearts our heavy with the news that we lost two firefighters, Thomas 'Tommy' Hayes of Post Falls and Jared Bird of Anchorage, Alaska, in the line of duty on the Moose Fire burning near Salmon. The men were experienced pilots, and both served our country in the armed forces. Our brave firefighters face extremely challenging conditions head on to protect lives, property, and the land. Idahoans are praying for the loved ones and colleagues of these firefighters as we grieve this tremendous loss. This tragedy will be deeply felt by the families and by the wildland firefighting community," Governor Little said.
Governor Little ordered U.S. and State of Idaho flags to fly half-staff immediately until the day following the final memorial service. An additional announcement will be released from the Governor's Office when the day of the final memorial service is known.
The flags flown over the Capitol building in honor of the deceased will be presented to the families.
The full text of the Governor's flag directive follows:
Please be advised that flags should be lowered to half-staff immediately starting Thursday, July 22, 2022, at the state Capitol building and at other state and local government buildings, for the tragic loss of two firefighter pilots, Thomas Hayes and Jared Bird, who lost their lives responding to the Moose Fire in Lemhi County.
The flags will be at half-staff immediately Thursday, July 22, 2022, until the day following the final memorial service, per Idaho Code 67-820.
The Governor's Office will send out an additional notification and update the web site at https://gov.idaho.gov/flag-status/ when the date of the final memorial service is identified.
Author: Chamber Staff
News Release No Comments
Previous PostPalouse Choral Society prepares for their inspirational 23rd season
Next PostAvista takes precautionary measures for dry weather conditions

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Should You Read While You Write?
Around 12:10 a.m. on January 1st, just after 2019 began, I made what I hope will prove to be my worst choice of the entire year: I started watching the latest "Black Mirror" project on Netflix, alone, in the dark.
"Black Mirror" is eerie at best and often genuinely disturbing, and probably should not be watched alone in the dark in any case. In particular it should not be watched under those conditions when it's not just a regular episode, but a stand-alone interactive movie that is asking you questions and presenting long stretches of new narrative based on your decisions. Because then? So much for sleep.
The name of the "Black Mirror" movie is "Bandersnatch," and its choose-your-own-adventure format has given rise to the shorthand "bandersnatching," which can either mean 1) watching the movie (not as interesting for our purposes today) or 2) making a series of irrevocable choices from behind the scenes.
So though you've probably never thought of it this way, you are, in short, bandersnatching your whole life. In the "Black Mirror" episode/movie, you're bandersnatching Stefan — will he choose Sugar Puffs or Frosties for breakfast? take what he's offered or refuse? go into a certain building or off down the street? — but of course, that's not how life works. We may not be fully in charge, but no one else is, either, so it's our choices, our decisions, that make the difference.
And sometimes it can feel like someone else is bandersnatching your writing career. Early in a traditional publishing career, someone else, an agent, is making the decision on whether or not to ask for your full manuscript when you send them a query letter or pitch them at a conference, and then makes the decision on whether to represent you; and in any author's career regardless of publishing format, someone else, a reader, is making the individual decision of whether or not to buy the book. There are editors and sales teams and Costco decision makers and cover designers and book clubs and event organizers and festival committees and awards judges: sometimes it feels like everyone gets to make decisions about your book/s but you.
The best thing and the worst thing about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is the relentlessness of your daily word count goal. You don't have to write 1667 words a day, of course, but if you want to get to 50,000 words by the end of the month, you need to hit that average.
Some days that's tough. Some days it feels well-nigh impossible. So here are 16.67 ways to juice your creative energies and string together some sentences – maybe even a scene – to get you closer to your inevitable NaNo win.
1. Take a bite. Look, your characters have to eat sometime. And what and how we eat can say something about who we are and how we live. Especially in a sci-fi, fantasy or historical fiction manuscript, what your characters eat will help define their world and invite the reader to the table.
2. Sweet dreams. Yes, dreams are absurdly overused in fiction in general as a shortcut to communicating a character's wants and needs. However! In the deliciously sloppy first-draft world of NaNo, exploring is important. Even if the scene doesn't make it into a finished manuscript, it might help shake something else loose—for the character or for you.
3. Dressed to the tens. Following on that point, clothes, like food, help set scenes and define worlds. Obviously in a finished book you're probably not going to lavishly detail every single gown and glove, but if you're looking at a fresh scene you just wrote, asking yourself what everyone involved is wearing might be a way to add a few sentences. And this month, every sentence counts.
4. Away we go. How are your characters getting from place to place? Don't be afraid to spend a little time in a car or carriage. If two or more characters are traveling together, maybe a conversation happens on the way. Solo traveler? Maybe your buttoned-up character, in the privacy of her own Prius, likes to crank Nine Inch Nails. You may discover something that comes in handy later. If not, at least you're keeping those fingers limber.
5. 'Tis the season. Whether or not you've thought about what time of year your story takes place, mentions of weather, holidays, annual events, or other time-stamps can be helpful for your eventual reader… and round out those bare-bones scenes you're throwing down. You'll want to know eventually whether your character is yanking on a pair of cut-offs or zipping up her puffy parka. Might as well add that in now and put some words to it.
6. Don't get to the point. When drafting fast, I often find myself scripting the essential parts of conversations where the action happens and then moving on. But that's not necessarily how talking happens in the real world. You don't need to start every phone conversation in your book with "Hello, it's me." "Hi. How are you?" In fact, please don't. But ask whether your characters are actually up for these intense, brisk conversations. Is one of them actively trying notto hear what the other is saying? Might the conversation take a turn in a different direction before it comes back to why it's there?
7. Same amount of conversation, a little more action. In those same, unnaturally effective conversations, what are your characters doing? Pacing? Staring out the window? Punching the mute button so they can chow down on a hoagie? Rounding these actions out is another technique that you can build out now and pare down later, keeping only the best.
And so, because there are many, many things to say about the work of writing, I put together a long list of short thoughts on the topic.
Writing is the easiest work you'll ever do, more joy than labor, a flurry of words pouring from your fingers onto the page so beautifully and smoothly you're more witness than worker. Some days.
On other days, it's so hard and slow and yes, laborious, that you feel you must be doing it wrong because if it's this hard how could anyone possibly force themselves to do it?
You will be surprised one day, many months after you've written something and circled back to it, when you can't tell the words you wrote in mood #1 from the words you wrote in mood #2.
You will almost certainly quit at least once.
You will start again when it has become obvious to you that quitting isn't working out.
It's work and it's magic and it's a mad alchemy.
You'll learn just as much from other people's work as you do from your own.
People who aren't writers themselves probably will not understand what it's like for you when the work is going poorly. They may sympathize, they may comfort you, and thank goodness for that, but still, they won't truly understand.
The work you do is yours in a primal and important way, but that doesn't mean that it won't be better if you work with other people. You owe it to yourself to try.
No work is ever wasted. Even if you delete thousands of words from a draft, you are a different and better writer because you wrote them.
"I worked so hard on it" also doesn't get you an agent.
Everyone works differently. You don't have to write every day or write what you know or stick to any other particular process that happens to work for other people. Even if it works for a lot of other people. All that matters is whether it works for you.
Like those writers who type out novels on their iPhones with one hand while commuting to their day jobs on the subway? Awesome. That's fantastic. But it doesn't mean you're any less of a writer if you don't work the way they do.
And don't judge other writers for how they work. It should go without saying, but alas, sometimes it has to be said.
You don't have to be producing words to be working. Thinking, observing, planning, all these are important parts of the writing process. It's not all about word count.
Make your characters stand-ins for ideas. All novels have themes, and plot and character serve to reinforce those themes, but that doesn't excuse characters who exist only to embody an idea that you want to advance or debunk. Unless you're writing allegory – and even if you are – you'll want characters with more complexity. Any character whose only purpose is to make a point or counterpoint is going to come across as tissue-thin. If that's what you're going for, great. If not, beware.
Base your characters exclusively on people in your life. Fiction is fiction, and fictional characters are characters, not people. There's nothing wrong with taking some inspiration from real life – physical appearances, snippets of dialogue, roles, conflicts – but the key word there is inspiration. If your imagination is caught by a man on the street with dark red hair the exact color of a copper penny, and that unusual physical feature sparks something you want to use in your novel, why not? Go ahead. But if you make the main villain of your novel a sharp-tongued, sharp-chinned woman with the exact physical characteristics of your irritating next-door neighbor and no redeeming qualities or inner life, you're setting yourself and your novel up for trouble.
There are virtually no rules that work for every single writer. So it's no surprise to hear from my fellow writer friends that everyone has slightly different rules about whether, and what, to read while they're working on their own books.
Some writers have a hard-and-fast no reading while writing rule; some even include research in that prohibition. They read and read and research. Then they stop, and the drafting begins.
Others are happy to read for enjoyment during the drafting process as long as the book isn't in their genre. Historical fiction authors avoid historical fiction, thriller writers read non-thrillers, and so forth. The reasons behind this seem self-evident.
Author interviews are very much on my mind these days from two perspectives: as the interviewer and as the interviewee.
As the interviewee, I'm talking a lot these days about my novel GIRL IN DISGUISE, coming out in paperback Tuesday, March 6. A paperback launch doesn't involve as much publicity and marketing as a hardcover launch, at least in my case, but it does involve interviews. Which is great for me! I love interviews.
Plus I'm now doing author interviews for the Chicago Review of Books, like this one with Leslie Pietrzyk, whose riveting, evocative novel SILVER GIRL just came out last week.
So that's my situation. What about yours? If you're an author, should you care about author interviews, from either side of the table? If you're an avid reader and blogger, should you conduct them?
Here are a few lessons learned from my recent experiences, both asking questions and giving answers.
They're almost always a good idea. Sure, there are counterexamples. If you're an author, giving a very long interview to a website with very little reach may not be worth your time. You can always say no. But as an effort-to-yield undertaking, in general, interviews are great. So many readers turn to the internet as a way to connect with writers whose work they admire or enjoy. Your interview will be there when they do. Reviews are good too, but I'd rather interview a fellow writer than review their work. A review implies evaluation of the work, determining whether or not it's worth someone's time. Interviews provide a lot of information without judgment. That's great for writers and readers alike.
This fall was a very intense writing time for me, as I took my third book (wow!) from a first draft to the version I submitted to my editor. Before the end of the month, I'll finalize it and it'll go off to copyediting, to become a Real Book. My editor and my agent are absolutely key to my writing process, but so are a handful of other trusted readers. Some writers work best in isolation; I'm not one of them. I need to focus alone on producing that first draft, but once I have it, feedback is crucial to my ability to make each book the best it can be. This fall I asked half a dozen crucial readers for feedback, and every one came through.
Every writer has to decide for herself what level of feedback to ask for and whom to get it from. Once you have that feedback, you have to decide what to do with it. Lots of great writers have talked about that process (you have a copy of Author in Progress, right?) so I want to take a slightly different angle today.
The feedback you don't get can be just as important as the feedback you do.
When I finished my first draft in September, I felt happy and relieved and all that; what I didn't feel was satisfied. I didn't feel like I had a book. I couldn't put my finger on why. Was it because this was the first book I'd written in years without a critique group? Were the characters thinly drawn, the plot unbelievable? Was the book actually — gulp — no good?
I needed help, and I reached out for it.
My first round of readers told me a few key things. One zeroed in on the lack of historical detail, a hallmark of my books — that was missing, she said. Another questioned a couple of character issues, places where they said or did things that didn't entirely track.
I'm not a huge fan of rules about writing. I don't write every day, for starters. I neither write what I know nor do I not write what I don't know. So there are very few blanket pronouncements I would make about writing, and I would never tell people not to do NaNoWriMo, attempting to knock out the better part of a novel in just one month.
But I will say this: I've done it a few times, and sometimes it turns out really well, and sometimes it's a spectacular crash-and-burn failure, and the difference between the two is never whether I actually manage to get 50,000 words onto the page.
So I have some ideas about what makes you more likely to succeed or more likely to fail. Here are my guidelines for what not to do, and I can tell you exactly what happens to at least one writer who tries to NaNoWriMo (yes, it can be a verb) this way. Because I am that writer.
Don't just say "any word is a good word." I recently finished the first draft of my next novel, which I worked on as my NaNoWriMo project two years ago. I'm a sloppy writer and a big advocate of just getting words on the page. So what's the difference between the 25,000 words I eked out two Novembers ago and the 100,000 draft I just finished? About 90,000 words, for one thing. During that November, I tried writing in different voices, from the POV of different characters, and paid no attention to whether or not all the scenes came together. Accordingly, almost none of them did. I did a great job developing characters… many of whom didn't even make it into the novel. Part of NaNoWriMo's usefulness is to get past your inner editor, but I left her so far in the dust that she has pretty much shrugged her shoulders and given up on me. Have some kind of a plan, even if it changes along the way.
So, Captain America is a Nazi.
Guess what: whether it's meant that way or not, it is. Maybe not political, but definitely a statement. Definitely.
In a related vein, you may have read that the cast of the new adaptation of "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu resisted calling the show "feminist" at a film festival event.
Ditto: whether it's meant that way or not, it is. Feminist means women should be treated as equal to men, and by showing us a bleak, unpleasant (to put it mildly) dystopia where women's rights are stripped and their value to society is based only on their reproductive capabilities, the show inherently argues that this treatment is wrong. If the show were on board with the extreme marginalization of women and smothering dissent with bullets, it would present these events very differently.
One more example from the world of book-to-TV/movie crossover: I recently devoured the Netflix adaptation of Jay Asher's book "13 Reasons Why." I must admit I suffer from the writer's disease of rarely being able to enjoy anything written purely as a reader or viewer; I'm always looking at the bones under the skin, analyzing the writing, wondering what decision the writer – not the character – will make next.
So two or three episodes into "13 Reasons", when a character raised the question of whether or not Hannah's words could be trusted, I thought: Is that where this is going? Will it be revealed that this suicidal girl is not innocent and wronged, but manipulative and vengeful, even from beyond the grave? I do love unexpected plot twists, and that would certainly be unexpected. What made me realize quickly that that was unlikely was the fact that I knew the show had been adapted from a young adult novel, and while YA books don't shy away from complexity, they also provide young adults the tools with which to interpret their world. I doubted the book would be so popular and loved if its basic message were If someone tells you they were bullied and mistreated in high school, don't believe them.
Well, I'm home from book tour! And leaving again in a few days. I try to group events together to make travel (and child care) easier, but these things can be difficult to wrangle precisely. So a month after I visited five states from Wisconsin to Alabama promoting Girl in Disguise, I'm headed out to four more (Iowa, here I come!).
I've found the advice of fellow touring authors from my previous tour-tips roundup invaluable on my travels, and since I received more suggestions than I could fit in a single post, I've got more to share with you! Without further ado, more brilliant ideas for authors on tour.
Always, and I really do mean always, check the spelling of every name before you inscribe. Even the most innocent and simple-sounding names have improbable variations – and the most surefire way of coming across these is to launch into the dedication without checking first. Some traps you'll learn to spot quickly enough – does Alison have one "l" or two? – but others will defeat you every time. Sometimes the only option is to have them write it down. Case in point: last month in Birmingham, AL, I signed a book for a lovely Romanian lady called Zsuzsu.
Have at least three or four stock phrases to include with your signature. These can be as simple as "Thanks for coming!" or "Hope you enjoy it!" – better yet to make a clever reference to the book itself, if you can manage it. The point is, you don't want to have to think too much about what to say each time a book is presented to you. Of course, there will always be people who ask you to "write something funny" as if it's the easiest thing in the world, and maybe it is for you. It's not for me – so I always have a stock joke or two ready, too.


ONE MONTH FOR TRANSFORMATION. 4 DROPS, 4 TIMES A DAY.
I created these remedies to give you all the benefits of a consultation with me. This comprehensive collection will support you through all the changes you may go through in life.
Tried and true remedies made with the highest quality organic, biodynamic and wild harvested Bach flower essences.
Alcohol-free in a pleasant tasting vegetable glycerine base. Safe for infants.
A blend of flower essences and essential oils to cleanse & uplift your space.
Book a custom blend consultation with Alexis and have a personalized remedy made for your unique needs.
:I love your flower remedies. I successfully weaned myself off Zoloft with the help of your Peaceful Worrier. I had tried to go off Zoloft a handful of times before and couldn't deal-something about these flower remedies! I really think it made a difference. I've just done one bottle in tandem with Zoloft as I eased off my medication and now I'm completely off Zoloft. The transition has been so smooth I can't believe it." –Erin G.
Stay up to date with the latest from Alexis Smart Flower Remedies.


text:
Chris Hughton
Newcastle United tie-up two new loan signings
NEWCASTLE UNITED have tied up a double deal to sign Queens Park Rangers defender Fitz Hall and Chelsea's Dutch left-back Patrick Van Aanholt.
The Chronicle can reveal that deals have been agreed with the players and their respective clubs.
And moves are also being finalised for the exit of Geremi, with the player due back after Cameroon's African Cup exit.
But Chris Hughton was concentrating on completing the incoming transfers and hopes that the 6ft 4in defender Hall, nicknamed One Size (Fitz Hall), would be the perfect fit.
And with Jose Enrique nursing a hamstring injury, 19-year-old former PSV Eindhoven kid Van Aanholt comes in after spending part of the season on loan at Coventry City.
He appeared on the bench on Saturday for Chelsea in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Preston.
The Hertodenbosch-born full-back is 5ft 9in and highly rated by Chelsea and will spend at least one month on loan on Tyneside.
Much-travelled 29-year-old Hall is expected to be signed on a loan deal until May to provide United's defence with vital cover as they go into the last 20 games of their Coca-Cola Championship season with defensive injury worries.
Hughton was keen to bolster his centre-back options today with the possibility that Steven Taylor could be missing for months rather than weeks with suspected knee ligament damage.
And Hall would offer back-up to both new boy Mike Williamson and Argentina international Fabricio Coloccini.
Hughton told the Chronicle earlier today: "I'm hoping to have two players in.
"We've been working on them for a while. We know we need to bring players into the squad to boost what we've got.
"And of course we've picked up an injury to Jose the other night.
"We need to reinforce and we're hopeful that can be done today.
"The important thing for us is that we finish this window with fresh faces.
"We saw with Williamson and Routledge that it lifts the crowd. It lifts what we have here too."
Hall started his football education with West Ham as a youngster before moving to Barnet, but he was unable to establish himself and was forced to drop to non-league level with Chesham United under the guidance of Bob Dowie, brother of ex-Toon coach Iain.
It was the Dowie link that earned him a move to Oldham Athletic 2002 when he played under Iain at Boundary Park but he was sold to Southampton for £250,000 after 41 games, scoring four times.
The Saints moved Hall on after 11 matches and he was re-united with both Dowies at Crystal Palace in a £1.5m switch, helping them secure promotion in 2004.
Two years at Selhurst Park for Hall were ended with a £3m move to Wigan, before joining QPR.
Meanwhile, United have also bid for Crystal Palace winger Victor Moses.
Hughton said: "He's a player we have made an official bid for.
"But everybody is aware of the situation at Palace and that's something that will be ongoing.
"He's a talented player with potential. How that talent is harnessed and developed is down to where he goes, and he starts off in a good position."
Steven Taylor
Football League Championship
Fabricio Coloccini


text:
Palmatine is a protoberberine alkaloid found in several plants including Phellodendron amurense, Coptis Chinensis (Rhizoma coptidis, chinese goldthread) and Corydalis yanhusuo, Tinospora cordifolia (gurjo, heart-leaved moonseed), Tinospora sagittata, Phellodendron amurense (amur cork tree), Stephania yunnanensis.

It is the major component of the protoberberine extract from Enantia chlorantha.

It has been studied for its potential use in the treatment of jaundice, dysentery, hypertension, inflammation, and liver-related diseases.  This compound also has weak in vitro activity against flavivirus.

Pharmacology

Neuroprotective activity
Palmatine can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease, mainly by inhibiting the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and neuraminidase-1 (NA-1). It was found, that the positively charged nitrogen on palmatine binds in the gorge of active sire of AChE.

Research show that palmatine had antidepressant effect. It was achieved by regulating brain catalase levels, monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) activity, lipid peroxidation, plasma nitrite and corticosterone levels.

Regulating blood lipid activity
Palmatine achieved hypoglycemic effects by inducing induction of insulin release and insulin-mimicking activity. In addition, studies found that palmatine also inhibited the activity of lens aldose reductase, sucrase and maltase. In vivo research showed that palmatine reduced serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) and increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Anticancer activity
Research showed that palmatine had broad anti-cancer activity. Palmatine had significant growth inhibitory effects on seven human cancer cell lines: 7701QGY, SMMC7721, HepG2, CEM, CEM/VCR, K III and Lewis. In addition, palmatine also had anti-cancer activity on MCF-7, U251, KB, CHOK-1, HT-29 and SiHacell lines. Palmatine induced apoptosis in human skin epithelial carcinoma cells (A431) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner via damaging severely to DNA and inhibiting the activity of Bcl-2 protein. In addition, palmatine can inhibit the proliferation and infiltration of cancer cells.

Antibacterial and antiviral activity
Palmitine has inhibitory effect on Gram-positive bacteria which is significantly stronger than that on Gram-negative bacteria, and 9-O-substituted palmatine derivatives exhibited stronger antibacterial activity.

Anti-inflammatory activity
Study showed, that palmatine can decrease the production of pro-inflammatory factors and increase the production of anti-inflammatory factors.

Other pharmacological activity
Studies showed that palmatine had antioxidant activity, had a protective effect on gastric ulcer, derivatives of palmatine were more effective against ulcerative colitis, including low cytotoxicity tointestinal epithelial cells. In addition, palmatine might have the antiarrhythmic effect, and provideprotection from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Toxicity
A large number of studies have shown that palmatine has a complex effect on the metabolism of enzymes in the liver, and that palmatine has significant DNA toxicity. However, some 9-O-substituted palmatine derivatives exhibited less toxic than palmatine. In addition, palmatine had higher affinity to nucleic acids than serum proteins, which make them suitable candidates for delivery by serum proteins.

See also
 Berberine
 Jatrorrhizine
 Phellodendrine

References

Isoquinoline alkaloids
Quaternary ammonium compounds
Phenol ethers
Isoquinolinoisoquinolines

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Organic peroxides are compounds containing 0-0 bond. The 0-0 bond is called the peroxide group. Organic peroxides may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic radicals.
The peroxide bond is one of the weakest bonds in organic molecules. Therefore it is very unstable and easily splits into reactive radicals via homolytic cleavage. For this reason they do not exist in nature in big quantities.
If peroxides are classified according to their substitution hydroperoxides ,acyclic dialkyl peroxides and cyclic peroxides are the main three groups.
Organic peroxides act through the splitting of the ―O―O― bond into free radicals, therebye initiating the polymerization or crosslinking of monomers or polymers.
Organic peroxides are used extensively as a source of free radicals for the polymerization of unsaturated monomer. Polymerization of monomers are initiated by free radicals produced by organic peroxides. Organic peroxides are used for monomers containing double bonds. Therefore they are used in polymers like low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyacrylate, polystyrene (EPS, GPPS, HIPS, SAN) and polybutadiene.
Organic peroxides are also used for the rheological control of polypropylene by using molecule breaking. Or they are used as cross linking of monomers or polymers.
Organic peroxides for the production of LDPE, PVC, PS are shown below.
Organic peroxides are available as solids (usually fine powders), liquids or pastes. Some materials, such as water, odourless mineral spirits, and some phthalate esters do not react with organic peroxides and are often used to dilute them. These solvents are called "phelegmatizers". The diluted mixtures or formulations are less likely to decompose when exposed to heat or physical shock than the undiluted organic peroxide. Dilution makes the unstable peroxides safer to produce, handle, and use.
Organic peroxides are prone to violent decomposition. Safety must be of allmost importance in handling these products. Decomposition can be caused by several factors, but overheating and exposure to metallic impurities must be controlled during handling.
Half-life data is provided for comparison purposes to select among different peroxides for use. Half-life is defined as the time it takes for one half of a given quantity of peroxide in dilute solution to decompose at a given temperature. The decomposition rate is first order and is characterized at a given temperature by the equation -dC/dt=kC where C is peroxide concentration, t is time and k is the first-order rate constant. For convenience in comparing the stability of peroxides in dilute solutions, peroxides are commonly listed according to the temperatures at which they have half-lives of 10 hours or 1 hour. The higher the temperature corresponding to the half-life, the more stable the peroxide. Half-life temperatures can vary based on the manner in which they are determined, especially the solvent used.


MyMemories Blog: It's Monday - time for a new Featured Designer! This week, meet Angie Kovaks!
It's Monday - time for a new Featured Designer! This week, meet Angie Kovaks!
Header Banner kit: *I Work Out Collection* from Angie Kovaks!!
The WHOLE Angie Kovaks shop is on sale this week!
I'm Angie from the great state of Ohio. Which is funny, as I once listed Ohio as one of the most boring "who would ever want to live there" states. Karma landed me here and now I could never think of leaving! I have 5 kids who are turning into grown ups right before my eyes, and one husband who drives me crazy, but is so tolerant of MY craziness, that it would seem we were meant to be.
I started paper scrapping in 2004 when a friend dragged me to a Scrapbooking 101 class against my will. I will spare you the details and many business I opened along the way, but that ultimately led me to where I am today. I'm never one to just have hobbies, I always have to turn them into jobs.
I'm excited to be here at My Memories, a new chapter in my crazy life!
Love, love, love Angie's kits!
I love the "I Work Out Collection"! So fun!
Her kits are so cute! I love her Merry Merry Collection - with the M & M type alphas! thanks for the chance!


With some of the other factions getting cavalry, I thought maybe hashing a few ideas for the Darkspawn getting some wouldn't hurt (much).
I was thinking of some abominations for them to ride. Not giant spiders, too Drow/D&D like, but something in the Warlord flavor. A cross between the Spawn, the Devourer and maybe a wolf, or horse. Got any ideas?
I throughout an idea for something similar to a Felhound in Warcraft Lore a long time ago.
I also think something like a Howler from DnD would be freaking incredible. This would also go with the look of the isiri grunts(almost starved but still ready to charge) and the long spines would be another source of pain for the twisted elves.
When you mention something of a mix between a Wolf and a Chaos Spawn I think of something similar to the Felhound. Give it a crest on it's head and make the shoulders broader with a bit more exposed skeletal structure and we have a gruesome mount.
Just so long as they're distinct from the GW Dark Elves, I'll be happy.
@shakhak--thanks for rockin' those pics to illustrate what I'm talkin' about!
@Obi--you got it; I don't want anything like all the other Dark Elf cavalry out there. No dragons, cold ones, whatever! I'm with you about keepin' it Warlord flavor entirely.
Oh yeah, I was thinkin' something like the guardian demon dogs that Heresy produces; again, Warlord flavored.
How about some sort of cavern worm with Burrow?
@Kengar--cool idea, but I was thinkin' more along the lines of cavalry, and having the Spawn burrowing is enough for the moment.
Personally, I would like something that is more along the lines of the movie alien.
I meant cavern worms as mounts (kinda like Dune on a smaller scale).
Gotcha. That would be a large model!
those evil beetle things from "the Dark Crystal"
Those damn things gave me nightmares when I was a little kid. Growing up in New England and always being in the woods, we had an ingrained paranoia about ticks. Those things always reminded me of giant ticks. It was the one part of the movie when I was little that actually gave me the creeps. Even when they tore apart that Skeksis I wasn't fazed, but those bugs. <shudder> BLEECH.
yep, as little kids those things did freak us didnt they?
Oh here is another that I actually think would work kinda cool, from the demon dog thinking.... Those gargoyle dogs that turn demon in the original "ghostbusters". Those were actually pretty cool.
Another idea, is taking from Rackham's Confrontation game, is something like that thing that I think is called the Abomination... Its been a while since I went over there so cant remmeber exact name of it.
I would be thinking a great cavalry mount would be something akin to a mountian goat or subterranian animal turned broken.


You've probably seen candid photos of celebrities at the airport, and marveled at their superhuman ability to maintain perfect hair and skin after a long flight. Those photos probably recalled memories of looking into the mirror after leaving a plane and seeing only limp, stringy hair and an oily complexion.
But before you succumb to a cycle of despair and self-pity, we're here to help. Follow these easy airplane beauty tips, and while you won't leave the plane looking exactly like a runway model, we can guarantee you'll at least be camera-ready.
Nothing's more important than keeping yourself hydrated! Airplane cabins are extremely dehydrating, so it's essential to keep your skin moisturized. Use a refreshing facial spray once every hour to soothe your skin. If you're on a long haul flight, consider carrying a small jar of overnight mask with you. Just smooth some on once the lights go out, pull down your eye mask and get some sleep. Once you wake up, you'll find that your skin has retained its pre-departure glow!
We understand if you don't like leaving the home without makeup on. But the air in the plane is constantly recycled, which means that it's easy for micro-particles to clog your pores. Going makeup-free will give your skin a chance to breathe during the flight. If you really can't bear to part with your foundation, consider decanting a small bottle of makeup remover to use on the plane after it takes off.
Don't forget your lips and eyes!
Puffy eyes and cracking lips will add years to your face, so don't neglect these parts during your airplane beauty routine! If it's a hassle to bring along extra jars of cream, you can try one of those multi-purpose balms and salves. Apply generously on your under-eye area and lips and let it slowly sink in during the flight.
Wet wipes are a lifesaver during a flight, and they're not just for your hands. It's easy to get a little ripe and smelly after spending hours cooped up with strangers in a small space. Just before you land, give yourself a good wipe in the airplane bathroom, especially under the arms and around the neck. If you're the sweaty type, a quick spray of deodorant will mask any unpleasant odours until you reach your hotel or home!
Your hair volume that is! Hair gets oily and limp very easily during flights, so hours before you board, work in a light volumizer spray and some dry shampoo into your roots and blow dry. A good travel neck pillow will also prevent the hair at the back of your head from becoming too crushed. And if it still doesn't work, a messy bun or low ponytail can help you look chic in a pinch!


text:
"Apollo's Muses" Podcast
'COVID, CULTURE & CASH' - Arts Fundraising During Coronavirus
Arts and culture organisations across the world have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdown. While some are now starting to reopen the financial impact on organisations and artists has been enormous. From day one fundraisers have been under huge pressure to raise money to keep their organisations afloat and ensure they can continue to provide cultural experiences for towns, cities and communities across the UK.
But how do you fundraise for arts and culture organisations in the middle of a global pandemic?
Throughout 2020 we have been interviewing arts fundraisers, asking them to share their stories of fundraising during this time. The resulting podcast series aims to provide a record of how the UK arts fundraising sector responded to coronavirus at different stages of the pandemic, while also providing you with some ideas and inspiration for fundraising within your own organisation.
Good luck and stay safe!
P.S. You can listen to every episode of the Apollo's Muses podcast on Spotify or on iTunes. Subscribe to hear new episodes as they are published.
Episode 10: Steph Graham, Dana Segal and Lucy Stone - Reflections on applying to Arts Council England's Culture Recovery Fund
Something a little bit different for Episode 10. In this episode Steph Graham (Arts Sector Consultant), Dana Segal (International Fundraising & Management Consultant) and Lucy Stone (Director, No Stone Unturned Fundraising) me to reflect on the application process for Arts Council England's Culture Recovery Fund. Having been part of a team that supported over 200 organisations to apply for funding (including commercial and subsidised organisations) we discuss what we thought made a strong application, where organisations struggled, how well the scheme met the needs of the sector and what we can learn from this process.
Recorded on Tuesday 1 September 2020
To find out more about the Arts Council England Culture Recovery Fund, visit https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/culture-recovery-fund-grants
Follow Steph Graham on Twitter
Follow Dana Segal on Twitter
Follow Lucy Stone on Twitter
Episode 9: Anna Vaughan - Fundraising Consultant, Glow Fundraising and Chair, Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network
Anna Vaughan (Fundraising Consultant at Glow Fundraising, and Chair of the Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network) shares her assessment of how the arts fundraising sector has responded to coronavirus, the lessons we can take from the last 3 months and some suggestions for arts fundraisers to focus on now.
Recorded on Tuesday 14 July 2020
During our conversation Anna and I talked about the digital events being organised by the Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network. You can find out more about the Network, book tickets for the upcoming free events and sign up to receive their newsletter here: https://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/groups/sig-cultural/
Follow Anna on Twitter
Find out more about Glow Fundraising and Anna's consultancy work
Follow IoF Cultural Sector Network on Twitter
Episode 8: Dana Segal - International Fundraising & Management Consultant
International Fundraising & Management Consultant Dana Segal reflects on how the arts fundraising sector have responded to the coronavirus pandemic and shares her advice on where fundraisers should be focusing as we prepare for the "new normal".
Recorded on Wednesday 8 July 2020
During our conversation Dana mentioned the "Defining the New Normal" conference that she is curating with Fundraising Everywhere and the National Arts Fundraising School. You can find more information about the conference and buy your tickets here https://fundraisingeverywhere.com/arts/
Follow Dana on Twitter
Follow National Arts Fundraising School on Twitter
Find out more about Dana's consultancy work
Episode 7: Dr Andrew Higgins - Director of Development, Imperial War Museums
Dr Andrew Higgins, Director of Development at Imperial War Museums talks about how he's been working with his team to plan for the future while still dealing with the uncertainty around coronavirus.
Recorded on Monday 1st June 2020
During the conversation Andrew mentioned the digital content that IWM has been producing. You can find examples here and here.
Andrew also recommended the Glyndebourne Open House streamings, which can be found at www.glyndebourne.com/openhouse/. The video of the Lord of the Rings cast "Reunited Apart" can be found here – www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_U0S6x_kCs
During the summary, David mentioned two other useful resources for arts fundraisers. The first was the Institute of Fundraising's Cultural Sector Network. The second was the "Defining the New Normal" conference curated by Fundraising Everywhere and the National Arts Fundraising School. Early bird tickets for this online conference are available from https://fundraisingeverywhere.com/arts/
Follow Andrew on Twitter
Follow IWM on Twitter
Find out more about Imperial War Museums
Episode 6: Dominic Haddock - Head of Development and Communications, English Touring Opera
Dominic Haddock, Head of Development and Communications at English Touring Opera talks about the company's fundraising campaign to support their freelance artist and crew, the steps they are taking to keep their supporters engaged during lockdown and thoughts on what might come next.
Recorded on Wednesday 6th May 2020
During the conversation Dominic mentioned the digital content that ETO has been producing during lockdown. You can find all of the content – including the singing lessons – here – https://www.youtube.com/user/ETO5254
Follow Dominic on Twitter
Follow English Touring Opera on Twitter
Find out more about English Touring Opera
Episode 5: Felicity Sutherland - Head of Development, Dulwich Picture Gallery
Felicity Sutherland, Head of Development at Dulwich Picture Gallery talks about launching the organisation's coronavirus appeal and finding the right tone for communications to supporters.
Recorded on Monday 4th May 2020
You can find more information about Dulwich Picture Gallery's coronavirus campaign here – https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/join-support/donate-now/
Follow Felicity on Twitter
Follow Dulwich Picture Gallery on Twitter
Find out more about Dulwich Picture Gallery
Episode 4: Dorcas Morgan - Development Director, Park Theatre
Dorcas Morgan, Development Director at Park Theatre shares how she has been raising money to secure the future of the theatre, including a phone campaign to existing supporters and the launch of their Park Life online appeal.
Recorded on Tuesday 28th April 2020
You can find more information about Park Theatre's Park Life campaign here – https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/support-us/park-life-fund
At the end of the episode David also mentioned the Fundraising Everywhere – taking place between 11 and 15 May. You can get tickets for this incredible event by clicking here.
Follow Dorcas on Twitter
Follow Park Theatre on Twitter
Find out more about Park Theatre
Episode 3: Kieran Jones - Development Manager, Young Classical Artists Trust
Kieran Jones, Development Manager at Young Classical Artists Trust tells us how the organisation quickly moved to establish a Hardship Fund to support musicians at an early stage in their career, and how the appeal has raised 20x the original target in just 4 weeks.
Recorded on Monday 27th April 2020
During our conversation Kieran mentioned a video that YCAT has sent to supporters, as well as digital performances they have made available. You can find them here:
'An Die Musik' video for supporters – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ybhZr449lw
Digital Performances from YCAT – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVKx6pM3z1Lyhke-2siG4Ng
YCAT Instagram Page – https://www.instagram.com/ycatrust/
Follow Kieran on Twitter
Follow YCAT on Twitter
Find out more about YCAT
Episode 2: Sarah Miguel - Head of Business Development, People's History Museum
Sarah Miguel, Head of Business Development at People's History Museum, talks to me about the work she has been doing as the museum prepares to launch a fundraising appeal in response to the coronavirus lockdown.
Recorded on Friday 17th April 2020
During our conversation Sarah mentioned a number of articles and events. You can find more details here:
Andrew McIntyre's article – "Culture in Lockdown Part 1: We can do digital, can we do strategy?"
Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy's 'Emergency Power Hours' – free consultancy support and advice being delivered by Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy's staff and trainers (including David)
Michael Rosen and Dr Russell James' white paper on legacy fundraising during the coronavirus pandemic
PHM's 4-week course 'Peterloo to the Pankhursts: Radicalism and Reform in the 19th Century'
Follow Sarah on Twitter
Follow People's History Museum on Twitter
Find out more about People's History Museum
Episode 1: Samir Savant - Festival Director, London Handel Festival
Samir Savant, Festival Director of the London Handel Festival, talks about how he has engaged supporters after the coronavirus pandemic cut short the 2020 Festival.
Recorded on Thursday 16th April 2020
(Click here to to watch the St John's Passion performance from Thomaskirche, Leipzig, on YouTube, as recommended by Samir)
Follow Samir on Twitter
Follow London Handel Festival on Twitter
Find out more about London Handel Festival
Looking for more ideas and inspiration? Check out our collection of free blogs, articles and downloads here!


Beauparc are pleased to announce the addition of Browsealoud services to three of our company websites: panda.ie, greenstar.ie and pandapower.ie These services will give all our website visitors a better experience – and reduce barriers between our content and our customers.
Browsealoud's innovative support software has added speech, reading, and translation services to the three aforementioned websites, facilitating access and participation for people with Dyslexia, Low Literacy, English as a Second Language, and those with mild visual impairments.
The software also enables online content to be read aloud in multiple languages using the most natural and engaging voice to transform the user's reading experience and facilitate those who are not fluent in written English.
This step enables Beauparc to provide the best customer service possible to all of our customers. This facility also ensures that we are compliant to the best of our abilities with EU Directive 2016/2102/EU, the EU Convention on Human Rights and the Irish Disability Act, 2005.


Women Owned Business & Organizations | Dawson & Dawson, Inc.
Our very own Kathy Dawson will be sharing the keys to hiring THE best. You don't want to miss this! Register today.
Business Travel to Philly – The Nation's Best Kept Secret!
PHILADELPHIA????? Hold on to your hats as I share some tips on taking a trip through our American heritage.
Dawson & Dawson,Inc. is pleased to be recognized and certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council as a woman-owned, operated and controlled business.


Six corporations banded together to overthrow the establishment with their superior breed of Armored Core mechs, yet the renegade Ravens aren't going quietly.
Engage in a realistic and diverse world facing the challenge of new enemies on the battlefields driven by cutting edge technology.
Customize your AC from a redesigned line up of parts, creating an unstoppable mech ready to take on your enemies.
The Armored Core series explodes onto the next generation systems delivering turbo charged, high intensity gameplay.
Buy Armored Core 4 - Playstation 3 now from Fully Retro. Shipping to Australia and New Zealand.


text:
One Hotpressed Grade
Finger Joint / Recycle Grade
Two Hotpressed Grade
Shuttering Plywood
Poplar Core
Birch Core
Hardwood Core
Wiremesh/Hexa Plywood
Triplex Plywood
Bintangor Plywood
Okouman Plywood
Pencil Cedar Plywood
Birch Plywood
Pine Plywood
poplar plywood
Markets & News
UK consumption of timber and panel products on the rise despite Brexit uncertainty
Views:0 Author:Site Editor Publish Time: 2017-12-25 Origin:Site
The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has issued its Statistical Review 2017. The publication shows that growth in the consumption of wood products in the UK resumed in 2016, following a small drop in volume the previous year. A near 3% volume increase resulted in the volume of wood products consumed rising to over 16 million m3 for the first time since before the recession of 2008.
Regarding the origin of timber and panel products imported to the UK, Europe remains the single largest source of supply in 2016 by both volume and value. In details, mainland European (including Russia) and UK produced timber and panel products continue to dominate the supply chain in the UK and continue to account for around 91% of all supply.
Talking of types of products imported, the review shows that UK imports grew by 4.4% in 2016 over 2015. This growth was especially generated by growth in particleboards (+12%), MDF (+9%) and softwoods (+6%). A near 1% increase was recorded for plywood imports but hardwood imports were lower in 2016 by around 2%. On the other hand, the level of UK timber and panel products exports remains quite low, achieving a volume of 0.5 million m3.
Finally, the publication presents a focus on the influence of the housing market on timber consumption along with an insight on the state of the whole Timber Industry. Significantly, the review confirms that the size and growth performance of the UK timber industry – worthy £9.6 billion in 2015 - compares favourably with many other industries, confirming the importance of the sector within the UK economy.
David Hopkins, TTF Managing Director, commented: "In terms of the value of wood products consumed in the UK, the year 2016 was the best since before the recession and indeed was better than the pre-recessionary year of 2007."
"Although little changed materially in 2016, a high degree of uncertainty for the future was created by the EU Referendum result."
"Different and new challenges are and will be presented, yet the timber industry has a long and mostly successful history of dealing with change. For our part, The TTF will keep on supporting member companies and new partners, putting programs in place for the benefit of the whole supply chain, and continue looking forward to facing the future together."
You are here: Home » News » UK consumption of timber and panel products on the rise despite Brexit uncertainty
ehuabao
Home Product Categories E-Catalog Company Profile Feedback Contact Us
We are p leased to provide our experience in plywood supply,
for your business and HuaBao Provide fruitful cooperation.
Call Us:86 539 5630255 / 86 539 8120663
0086 -18669900176
Copyright  Linyi huabao import and export co. LTDAll rights reserved.


The New York Times recently talked about people making a living (read six-figure income) from their videos on YouTube through advertisements but what they probably missed is this part where YouTube stars are getting featured in TV commercials due to the right popularity of their videos.
Matt Harding, popularly known as Dancing Matt on YouTube, is one such unique example. His video "Where the Hell is Matt" has been watched around 15 million times on YouTube and that prompted Visa to sign him for their TV commercials promoting Visa Currency Cards.
The 30 second commercial is now being aired across different countries and I just got a chance to see the ad (embedded above) during the India-England cricket match. Matt is not disclosing the financial arrangement with Visa but it's the first case where viral videos made someone a TV star.


text:
Titles on the Muslim world, its lands, cities and history, landmarks, past and present including chronological volumes.
Huma's Travel Guide To Palestine
The land of Palestine is steeped in history, religious traditions and the sacrifice of its people. From Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, to Jerusalem, one of the mos..
Madina to Jerusalem: Encounters with the Byzantine Empire
Ismail Adam PatelMedina to Jerusalem: Encounters with the Byzantine Empire races one of the most energetic and dynamic episodes in the history of Islam, that follows immediately af..
Paradise on Fire (PB): Syed Ali Geelani and the Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir
Abdul HakeemA passionate and committed account of Kashmir's struggle for freedom over the last 65 years, and a close-up and personal study of its leading figure, Syed Ali Geelani, ..
Western Muslims From Integration to Contribution
Tariq RamadanThis book sheds light on the role of Western Muslims and offers paradigms for thought and civic engagement. The politics of 'integration' is discussed and a dynamic ro..
Islamization of Knowledge: Yesterday and Today (Book 8)
Taha Jabir al 'AlwaniThis paper offers a number of valuable insights gained from a long engagement with Islamic as well as global issues, with traditional as well as contemporary c..
Ummah or Nation? Identity Crisis in Contemporary Muslim Society (HB)
Abdullah al-AhsanDR. ABDULLAH AL-HASAN was born in former East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and educated at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (Pakistan). McGill University, Montreal (Can..
IBT - Islamic Book Trust
IBT - Stages of Islamic Revolution
Kalim SiddiuiIn the foreword of this book, Dr. kalim siddiqui described it as his last testemant. Few realised the significance of this statement at the time. Fewer still imagined ..
The Muslims of Bosnia: Genocide of a People
salahi ramadan sonyelDr. Salah Ramadan Sonyel, BORN IN Cyprus in 1932, after graduation from the English school at Nicosia, served as a civil servant in the British Colonial Admini..
Gaza Stay Human
Vittorio ArrigoniWith an introduction by world renown Israeli academic Ilan Pappe, Vittorio Arrigoni's book Gaza Stay Human vividly brings to life an eyewitness account of the 23 d..
Stealth: The New War Machine
Hans HusumSurgery doesn't make sense anymore. The injuries are too bad and there are too many of them. Those at the other end are far too powerful. Something very bad is happening,..
Dead Reckoning : Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War
Sarmila BoseThis ground-breaking book chronicles the 1971 war in South Asia by reconstituting the memories of those on opposing sides of the conflict. 1971 was marked by a bitter c..
Paradise on Fire (HB): Syed Ali Geelani and the Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir
Abdul HakeemA passionate and committed account of Kashmir's struggle for freedom over the last 65 years, and a close-up and personal study of its leading figure, Syed Ali Geelani, ..
Muslim Heritage and the 21st Century
Muhammad AhsanMuhammad Ahsan, a dedicated research scholar, has extensively published on social and economic issues particularly in relation to the Muslim world. His recent work fo..
Islamization: Reforming Contemporary Knowledge (6)
'AbdulHamid A. AbuSulaymanThis book is an attempt to recapture the original vitality, which was ever concomitant with the high moral code of Islam – in order to address the amazing..
War In Bosnia
Isnam TaljicThe turbulent past of Srebrenica, a small town in the northeastern part of the ancient state of Bosnia, spans a period of 2,000 years and is older than modern Western c..
In The Shade of The Tree
Peter SandersPhotographer Peter Sanders offers arresting images of Muslim life around the globe in In the Shade of the Tree: A Photographic Odyssey Through the Muslim World. Sander..
OUP & Penguin
The Oxford Handbook: European Islam
Jocelyne CesariFor centuries, Muslim countries and Europe have engaged one another through theological dialogues, diplomatic missions, political rivalries, and power struggles. In ..
Globalisation or Recolonisation? The Muslim World in the 21st Century
Muhammad AhsanIn a globalised world that is, nevertheless, contorted by great misunderstandings, this book by Ali Mohammadi and Muhammad Ahsan is both timely and Important. It addr..
Temptation Of Power - Islamist & illiberal democracy in a new Middle East
Shadi HamidIn Temptations of Power, Shadi Hamid draws on hundreds of interviews with leaders and activists from across the region to advance a new understanding of how Islamist mov..
Defending The Transgressed
Gibril HaddadShaykh Muhammad Alfif al-Akitis Fatwa entitled Defending the Transgressed by Censuring the Reckless against the Killing of Civilians was written in response to the str..
Race, Religion & Muslim Identity in Britain
DR. Muhammad Abdul BariIt is most useful to have this incisive and accessible book which situates the emergences of Muslims communities and activism in the context of the evolution..
Ahmad Al-AqhisariOttomans initiated the West to the pleasures of opium, coffee and tulips. For their reward, they got literally smoked by Europeans, who started exporting tobacco t..
Muslim World Almanac 2008
Muslim World Almanac is a single volume encyclopaedic compendium on Islam and the Muslim world encompassing virtually every part of life in general and muslim life in particular. I..
Mass Resistance in Kashmir: Origins, Evolution, Options
Tahir AminThis study seeks to answer several questions. What is the nature of the dispute? What is the significance of Kashmir for the parties involved? What efforts have been made..
Where East Meets West : Appropriating the Islamic Encounter
Mona Abul - FadlThe fate of civilization lies in the balance of culture, not power. This penetrating work argues that the terms of the culture of our times will determine the futur..
Islamic Fundamentalism
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan In this series, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan has presented the fundamental teachings of Islam in a simple way. About The Author Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born i..
The Power of Israel in the United States
James PetrasJames Petra's is a Bartle Professor (Emeritus) of sociology at Binghamton University, New York. He is the author of 62 books published in 29 languages, and over 560 art..
IBT - Revolution to Revolution
Abdul Rashid MotenStudies dealing with Islam and politics focus largely upon the impact of Islam on political institutions in the Muslim world. This study reverses the sequences an..
The Middle East in the World Economy
Roger OwenExamines the growth and transformation of the Middle East economy during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The text looks at how the region's economic structures were fu..
Forty days and forty nights in Yemen
Tarim is the setting of a forty day Dowra (intensive course in traditional Islamic sciences)that was attended by Ethar El-Katatney in Summer 2008 for the purpose of religious learn..
Reflections on the revolution in europe
Christopher Caldwell'We need books like this' Literary Review 'He is right to argue that immigration on the scale that Europe has experienced constitutes a risky experiment. He is..
Al - Qaeda
Jason Burke'A MUST-READ… JASON BURKE'S BOOK IS THE ONE THAT WILL LAST IT'S TRIUMPH' GURDIAN THE THREAT OF TERRIORISM IS SOMETHING WE ALL LIVE WITH. BUT HOW DOES THE IDEA OF 'AL-QA..
Nigeria and Shari'ah: Aspirations and Apprehensions
NIGERIA AND SHARI'AH: ASPIRATIONS AND APPREHENSIONS shows that the Shari'ah issue continues to dominate the minds of many if not the majority of Nigerian Muslims in particular and ..
Muslim Civilisation: The Causes of Decline and the Need for Reform
M Umer ChapraAbout the Book: Muslim civilisation has experience an overall decline during the last five centuries after having witnessed a long period of prosperity and comprehensi..
Studies in Islamic Civilization: The Muslim Contribution to the Renaissance
Ahmed Essa with Othman AliStudies in Islamic Civilization draws upon the works of Western scholars to make the case that without the tremendous contribution of the Muslim world the..
A Short History of Islam
S.E.Al-DjazairiPresents a short history of Islam, from 500 AD till 1900 AD. (9780955331305/1742)..
Islamic Album (Hard Landscape)
ISLAMIC ALBUM Galleries Of The Two Holy Mosques (9789100201050/4804)..
Issues In Islamic Society & State
Syed Abul A'la MawdudiIssues In Islamic Society & State is the English version of Syed Abul A'la Mawdudi selected essays on topics of vital importance on the establishment of a soc..
IBT - Hizbullah Party of God
Abdur Rahman KoyaFrom rag-tag band of guerrillas in the 1980s, the Hizbullah have become a near-professional army capable of resisting the Israelis on several fronts for prolonged ..
Islamic Text Socity
Fez City of Islam
Titus BurckhardtFez, City of Islam is undoubtedly one of Titus Burckhardt's masterpieces. It conveys a profound understanding of the sacred roots that nourish Islamic culture and c..


text:
Notre Dame International
London Global Gateway
Faculty & Student Portals
News & Stories ›
London Global Gateway offers first Asia-focused course
Author: Liu Institute
Notre Dame students studying abroad in London in the spring have the opportunity to enroll in the first Asia-focused course offered at the London Global Gateway.
East Asian Ways of Life: Philosophy and Practice (PHIL 24432/ASIA 24432) will be taught by adjunct instructor Lana Ko, who holds a doctorate from SOAS, University of London, in early Chinese thought and bodily practice. The course fulfills Notre Dame's second philosophy requirement and also counts as an elective for the supplementary major or minor in Asian Studies.
"We will approach philosophy as ways of life dreamt and lived by East Asian thinkers," Ko said. "Throughout the course, we will explore core questions and challenges that have been raised in the history of East Asian philosophy—What is the Way (dao)? Is it possible to become a sage or transcendent? How can we cultivate our body and mind to manifest the Way? Can the practice of arts re/present the Way?
"We will learn how each tradition and thinker—Confucians, Daoists and Buddhists—conducted their life by trying to answer these questions."
London is a superb setting for the course, said Jonathan Noble, interim director of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and senior assistant provost of Internationalization.
"London, as a highly diverse and multicultural city, has been significantly influenced by Asian culture, thought, commerce, and other areas," Noble said. "As such, London is a wonderful place to learn about Asia and its diaspora, and this philosophy course will offer students important perspectives and opportunities that will enrich their study abroad experience."
East Asian Ways of Life starts with basic concepts that run through the history of East Asian philosophy and introduces the major traditions of Confucian, Daoism and Buddhism. Students will explore the application of philosophy in a wider cultural context by examining arts particular to East Asian context. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to bring comparative aspects with other philosophical traditions, either from the West or from India.
The course has been developed through support by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies as well as Notre Dame International's London Global Gateway and the University of Notre Dame Department of Philosophy.
"A Lofty Scholar Contemplating Water" by Kang Hui-an (1417-1464) is printed by permission from the National Museum of Korea.
Originally published by Liu Institute at asia.nd.edu on November 29, 2021.
Copyright © 2022 University of Notre Dame (USA) in England
London Global Gateway 1-4 Suffolk Street, London, SW1Y 4HG United Kingdom Phone +44 20 7484 7800 Fax +44 20 7484 7868 london@nd.edu


text:
Q: boolean conditions in if statement I want to double check something about multiple conditions in a boolean if statement in PHP.  Given that I write:
if(!empty($_POST) && !isset($_POST['report_btn'])) {...}

can this be re-written as
if(! ( empty($_POST) && isset($_POST['report_btn']) ) ) {...}

I'm wanting to remove one of the exclamation marks to see if I can make the code a bit tidier.  The logic is to see if I can execute the code if POST data has been sent to a page but the 'report_btn' value is not set.

A: Boolean logic says that
!A && !B == !(A || B)
!A || !B == !(A && B)

A: It's better to know how to transform your logical expression properly.
It's good to read about De Morgan's laws which includes your case.

"not (A and B)" is the same as "(not A) or (not B)"
"not (A or B)" is the same as "(not A) and (not B)".

A: No, You can not write the above condition as below condition:
Reason:
for:
if(! ( empty($_POST) && isset($_POST['report_btn']) ) ) {...}

the result matrix will:
first_statement second_statement result
   true            true          false
   true            false         true
   false           true          true
   false           false         true

And for the below
if(!empty($_POST) && !isset($_POST['report_btn'])) {...}

The result matrix will be:
first_statement second_statement result
   true            true          false
   true            false         false
   false           true          false
   false           false         true

It means both code are not similar.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
EDRADOUR 2009 Aged 10 years
EDRADOUR 2009 Aged 10 years 57,2%
Single Malt Whisky, Scotland / Highland, 70cl, Ref: 56546
Quantity limited to 1 bottle(s) by client.
In February 2019, Andrew Symington began a full renovation of the ancient Edradour distillery. A new washback was opened, and a new Morton refrigerator which cools the wort (must) in open air, a brand new 4,200-litre wash still and a 2,200-litre spirit still - all exact copies of their predecessors - once again took their place at the distillery and began producing malt on 5 August 2019. With lots of originality and freshness, this bottling invites us to conquer a palette of flavours and aromas in which malted barley and sherry battle it out with the single goal of demonstrating their incredible symbiosis. Spectacular!
the full-bodied first nose is vegetal (mint) and roasted (tobacco). Quickly, it becomes hot (Espelette pepper), tarry and honeyed (pine). Allowed to breathe, it becomes rich (tarte tatin). With lots of vivacity, the attack evokes a raspberry brandy. On the mid-palate, this youthful interlude gradually makes way for a very confident maturity. The rich finish is very Andalusian (Pedro Ximenez), floral (carnation) and superbly malty.
Single Malt – 59%, 70 cl
Single cask no. 79 – First Fill Sherry Butt
An LMDW exclusive
See more products from EDRADOUR
See all products: La Maison du Whisky
Get notified when a Edradour product is back in stock
on this product
Protected package
ultra-resistant packaging
Credit Card, bank transfer, Paypal,...
- from €130 in France
- from €250 in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Britain
SSL Secure Paiement
Type / Subtype : Whisky / Single Malt Whisky
Brand / Distillery : Edradour
Country / Region : Scotland / HIGHLAND
Merchant : La Maison Du Whisky
Line : ARTIST
Bottling :
Strength : 57,2%
Vintage : 2009 Vintage
Peated : Unpeated
Gift box : Case
Appearance : orangey copper.
Nose : full-bodied, round. The magnificently herbaceous (mint, chervil) and roasted (tobacco, coffee) first nose quickly becomes hot (Espelette pepper, paprika), slightly tarry (zan liquorice sweets) and honeyed (pine). Allowed to breathe, it becomes increasingly rich (chocolate éclair, tarte tatin). Next, dried fruits (date, fig, walnut) gradually appear alongside notes of precious wood (polish, wax) and leather.
Palate : precise, full of energy. The attack clearly evokes a raspberry brandy, showcasing the quality of an unctuous, almost creamy, distillate. On the mid-palate, this youthful interlude gradually makes way for a very confident maturity. Nectarine, toasted walnut, dark chocolate and liquorice pay testament to this very charming transformation.
Overall : long, generous. The very Andalusian start of the finish is both unctuous and salty. Its sweetness evokes a Pedro Ximenez wine. At the same time, florals (carnation, lily, iris) add a heady dimension. Peanut and toast notes underscore the rich character of the flavour palette. As a final signature, the retro-nasal olfaction and empty glass pay a vibrant tribute to malted barley.
The Edradour distillery is known most of all for the individual style of its single malt, which is exported throughout the world. Interestingly, the distillery's owner Andrew Symington, has begun working on special finishes, each one more innovative than the last (Burgundy, Chardonnay, Châteauneuf-du-pape, Madeira, Moscatel, Port, Sassicia, Tokaji, etc.), with these new releases revolutionising the distillery's somewhat outdated image. Under the directorship of Iain Henderson, the former director of Laphraoig, at the end of 2002 Edradour began producing a second, very peaty, single malt called Ballechin, the name of a former distillery in the region. Find out more
Since 2005, with the opening of the Kilchoman micro-distillery on the isle of Islay, Edradour is probably no longer the smallest distillery in Scotland. Tucked away on the edge of a small valley, among the hills over the town of Pitlochry, this distillery resembles a charming little village with its red shutters, landscaped garden and gently splashing stream. Purchased in 2002 by Andrew Symington, the founder of Signatory Vintage, Edradour has become more than just a tourist attraction. This distillery-farm concentrates all the operations involved in the production of whisky in a single room, from the mill to the still, which is the smallest size authorized by the British Customs and Excise department. Very traditional, Eradour receives 100,000 visitors a year, who are literally transported to the 19th century in this remarkable time capsule.
Artist, Lands of Scotland, Malt Pedigree, Tartan, The Ten, Very Cloudy... all of these whisky ranges – composed of single malts and single grains – have one thing in common: they were all created by the team at La Maison du Whisky. They are the fruits of many decades of close collaboration with some of the most prestigious bottlers in Scotland. For some years the French importer and exclusive distributor of the classic ranges of well-known spirits producers, La Maison du Whisky was soon granted the very rare privilege of being able to complement these ranges with their own, bringing together two sets of expertise, two reputations and two complementary histories under one, single label.
Baptised 'Artist', this new range makes no bones about proclaiming its identity. Cosmopolitan and contemporary, it draws its inspiration from the style that gave the Italian bottlings of the 60s and 70s their cult following. From the choice of whiskies (distillery, ageing process, age, strength, bottling procedure) to the design of the bottle and choice of label, every detail has been carefully considered. This range offers a fine presentation of both the whiskies and the artist whose works have been selected for the back labels.
DELIVERY IN MAINLAND FRANCE AND WORLWIDE
on all orders from €130 and up in France Mainland
from €250 and up in Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, Britain, Belgium
To a collection point or to your home.
METICULOUS, SECURE PACKAGING
For rare bottles,
only DHL offers sufficient guarantees for fast and easy delivery. Delivery Terms and Shipping Charges
Conditions of dispatch and delivery
PAYMENT TERMS AND GUARANTEES
TRANSFER PAYMENT
Monday-Friday from 9am to 7pm
Saturday – from 10am to 7pm
See all payment methods
We recommend to you
Wolfburn is the most northerly whisky distillery on the scottish mainland. Originally founded in 1821, in its day it was one of the biggest...
Laphroaig 10 year old is undoubtedly one of the all time great malt whiskies from Scotland. Its idiosyncratic peaty character stands out...
With all the classic BenRiach characteristics, BenRiach batch 1 is the first Cask Strength expression to be added to the core range....
Definitely unavailable
The Peated Cask Reserve is said to be inspired by an association formed between The Glenrothes and Islay Distillery Co Ltd in 1887, called...
The Limited Edition 2008 Vintage is a vatting of fresh ex American bourbon barrels filled in July 2008 and bottled in August 2015. This...
Pascal D. the 13/11/2019
un régal, couleur cuivre foncé , du gras de l'onctuosité , c'est génial


text:
Q: How to filter and get specific keys from JSON objects array I have a JSONB field containing a value in this structure:
[
    {
        "type": "small",
        "name": "Josh",
        "greeting": "Hello buddy!",
        "hobby": "billiards",
        "place": "Barcelona"
    },
    {
        "type": "big",
        "name": "Aziz",
        "greeting": "Hey man!",
        "hobby": "tennis",
        "place": "Montpellier"
    }
]

I want to include this output if type is equal to "big":
{
    "greeting": "Hey man! How're you doing Aziz?",
    "place": "Montpellier"
}

*

*In the first row, I combined two values into one with some additional words.

*I don't want my whole output to be empty if there isn't type value
equal to "big".  Instead, output values of type value equal to
"small" as a fallback.

*If there is not a fallback with type equal to "small", then output an empty string or NULL value but without Nulling the whole query result. Or preferably, not include these keys if no value is present.

I know I can combine values into one by using CONCAT but don't know how to build this query and integrate it. I can't loop through the array and output the values of the object that matches my filter. Tried CASE but still wasn't able to get the result I want.
I use PostgreSQL 13.

A: Returns single column of JSON if big or small exists, NULL otherwise:
WITH records AS (
  SELECT * FROM JSONB_TO_RECORDSET(
    '[
        {
            "type": "small",
            "name": "Josh",
            "greeting": "Hello buddy!",
            "hobby": "billiards",
            "place": "Barcelona"
        },
        {
            "type": "big",
            "name": "Aziz",
            "greeting": "Hey man!",
            "hobby": "tennis",
            "place": "Montpellier"
        }
      ]'
  ) as record(type VARCHAR, name VARCHAR, greeting VARCHAR, hobby VARCHAR, place VARCHAR)
)
SELECT JSONB_BUILD_OBJECT(
        'greeting', FORMAT('%s How''re doing %s?', greeting, name),
        'place', place
       )
FROM records
WHERE type IN ('big', 'small')
ORDER BY type
LIMIT 1;


Quality and craftsmanship worthy of being the centerpiece of our church, our crucifixion of Jesus statues are unequaled.
+ Images in this gallery show some of the Crucifix and Corpus we have for sale.
+ We buy used crucifixes, corpuses, and entire church contents confidentially.
+ Current inventory includes an amazing crucifixion scene, a huge antique Mayer Munich 12' crucifix, full size corpus and more.


The Outer Limits - Do You Remember?
"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical."
Thus started the iconic TV sci-fi programme "The Outer Limits", spoken by a stern man, as the morse-code inspired theme tune ran underneath. What an amazing intro! I was hooked immediately.
As with all good series it was rebooted in the 1990's when they ran out of original ideas, airing on the channel "Showtime" from 1995–1999, then on the Sci-Fi Channel from 1999 until its cancellation in 2002.
All 49 episodes of the original series are available on Hulu.
Do You Remember The Outer Limits?


My name is Patience. I'm an ocelot kitten. I was born in the hills near Tucson, Arizona. Ocelots are nocturnal, so we sleep during the day and venture out at night to hunt for food. My dad travels about 5 miles at night looking for food but mom and I stay pretty close to our rocky little cave.
Ocelots are carnivores. We catch small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fish. When I spot a little animal, I crouch down and stay perfectly still! I'm VERY patient! I slowly creep up until I get really close and then I pounce on it!
We're an endangered species due to deforestation, habitat destruction, agriculture, hunting for fur and the pet trade.
We're protected now, and that makes me very happy!!!


text:
Gay marriage, elections and a third way in Mexico
By Jorge E. Traslosheros
|Special to Crux
LGBT marchers denouncing hate crimes based on sexual orientation at 2009 LGBT Pride Parade in Mexico City.
In the recent midterm elections in Mexico, the ruling Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) suffered a resounding defeat, the third largest in its history. It's clear that the ordinary citizen, tired of corruption and violence rampant in the country, chastised the party in power.
This undeniable fact has several very interesting aspects.
The vote did not disperse among the different opposition parties; it concentrated in a single one, the Partido de Acción Nacional (PAN), identified with pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-family causes. It is evident to the eyes of an attentive observer that the initiative of President Enrique Peña Nieto to amend the constitution to introduce a guarantee of "marriage equality" weighed on the minds of voters.
This has been noted by several players in the electoral race, including Martin Orozco (PAN), triumphant governor for the State of Aguascalientes. Francisco Labastida Ochoa, one of the most distinguished leaders of PRI, noted this as well.
Before the presidential initiative to include gay marriage into the constitution, it seemed that even in very tight electoral scenarios, the PRI would be victorious. Yet after the initiative was introduced, this was no longer the case.
This defeat is not mere chance.
There is growing unease in Mexican society against Peña Nieto's initiative, and this feeling increases as its contents are better known. For example, exercising their rights as citizens, Christians of different denominations – Catholic, mainline Protestants and Evangelicals, who represent the majority of the voters – expressed in different ways their rejection of the amendment.
They aren't the only ones protesting, even though they're the ones the media has paid most attention to, partially to disqualify them for being "religious." That's a common practice in Mexico, where the media can seem anti-Catholic.
Rebellion has also spread within the ranks of the PRI, generating anger among active members who, seeing the results, will now have more arguments against the initiative of the president. The PRI leadership would do well to consider this initiative as one of the major causes behind their defeat.
This is clear: to popular grievances over corruption and violence, the party added this measure, which is perceived as an aggression against the family, the only institution in which the Mexicans trust, because in it we find support and protection.
Different studies of public opinion regarding confidence in institutions always rank the family and Christian churches first.
Arithmetic has a role in politics, and Peña Nieto should realize that the political numbers don't add up.
There's a growing rebellion within PRI, to the extent that the party leader, Manlio Fabio Beltrones, has promised that the conscience of legislators will be respected, including their religious one. This means that Peña won't have the legislators in his party voting as a single block.
The initiative to reform the constitution could perhaps go through the Chamber of Deputies through pressure, arm-twisting, blackmail and violence against its members, but it'd be even harder for it to move forward in the Senate.
There, the initiative would need the full support of the PAN and the majority of the PRI members to stop the reform, and those numbers are already hard to achieve.
Here, one has to wonder: Will the PAN let this remarkable victory slip away to back a presidential initiative that simply adds to the accumulation of grievances among the Mexican people?
What would the PAN win by doing so, at a time when society has confirmed its overall support for the party with its votes? Also, what would the members of PRI win by joining a cause that evidently harms their numbers and divides them?
In effect, they would have to be suicidal to support the initiative.
The electoral message is clear, and now, the 2018 presidential elections are at stake. Thus, Peña Nieto has three possibilities.
One is to withdraw the initiative, accepting it failed, which would leave him as a lame-duck until the end of his six-year term.
The second is to try to impose the initiative through force, risking a personal defeat and unnecessarily increasing social unrest when it's clear that the last thing Mexicans need is more violence, either real or symbolic. Why divide the country, why polarize the spirits when what Mexico needs is unity?
There is a third way which is by far the best alternative, by amending the bill.
The bill could be revised to protect the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, adding procreation as one of its possible purposes (non-binding, but always present). Then, it could take advantage of the generosity and ductility of civil law to create new institutions that protect new human relations.
It's worth recalling that in Mexico we have the legal tradition of a Civil Code, unlike the United States where the tradition of "Common Law" still dominates.
The third way seems to be the most reasonable one since it'd give respite to Peña Nieto, something he dearly needs. It would appease the rebellion within his party, build effective bridges for dialogue with civil society and other political representations, and most importantly, it would reconcile the legitimate demands of a pluralistic society, which is hungry for peace and justice with dignity.
The third way is the only space where different interests converge for the common good. Peña Nieto shouldn't let this opportunity pass him by.
Progress along this path, centered in reason and respect, is simple. We simply need to regain a sense of humor, opening wide avenues to common sense.
In Ordinary Time, the buzzword is 'discipleship'
Father Jeffrey F. Kirby
Love for liturgy was the beginning and end of Pope Benedict's life
At Christmas, God has seen our brokenness and comes to us
As an Advent lesson, stress the importance of the funeral Mass